A system and method for generating an optical return-to-zero signal. The system includes an electro-optical conversion system. The electro-optical conversion system is configured to receive an input electrical non-return-to-zero signal, process information associated with the input electrical non-return-to-zero signal, and generate an output optical return-to-zero signal based on at least information associated with the input electrical non-return-to-zero signal. The output optical return-to-zero signal is an optical differential return-to-zero signal, and the optical differential return-to-zero signal is associated with a frequency chirp.